Zakk Wylde: Avenged Sevenfold’s Synyster Gates Is the New Torchbearer for Kids to Play Solos

Since Zakk Wylde stunned fans with his work on Ozzy Osbourne's 1988 solo album, 'No Rest for the Wicked,' the current Black Label Society frontman has been held in high esteem as a guitar god. Wylde has consistently been a top-tier shredder ever since, but in a new interview, Wylde points to a younger guitarist as the new torchbearer.

Who has Zakk Wylde appointed as today's most influential soloist? The answer is Avenged Sevenfold's Synyster Gates. While A7X have often elicited a polarizing response from music fans, the guitar-playing talent of Gates is undeniable.

"I think it’s great that Avenged Sevenfold is having all this success; it’s awesome for the whole rock community in general," Wylde tells Pop-Break. "[Synyster Gates is] the torchbearer for the young kids now to play solos, learn the scales, and develop a feel. The same thing with Randy [Rhoads], aside from the amazing songs and solos, he always made it cool to want to learn so you’re knowledgeable with the guitar. He made having wisdom with the instrument cool."

Wylde also spoke about his own guitar idols and his undying passion for playing his instrument everyday. "What helped me learn was listening to John McLaughlin, Joe Cash, and old jazz records," Wylde describes. "Without a doubt, I still practice every morning because I look forward to it. When I wake up in the morning, let’s say you and me get some coffee and go for a jog, for me, that’s just like running scales. I wake up in the morning and have a cup of java and I like to start running through the pentatonic scales, diatonic scales, diminished scales and patterns."